Debate is great. I ask that it be done in a friendly manner, however. Dave has spent a lot of work sharing his theory and while we may agree or disagree, what he does deserve is to feel welcome and respected and of course vice versa.

While it's a good theory for some, I don't think you can make a blanket statement that all crohns people have weak immune systems from sugar acid. Both my dad and I have crohns, and we are (other than crohns) the healthiest people I know. Never get sick and have never had dental problems. Even on remicade I get sick less than my husband and son. And my body actually has horrible reactions to antibiotics. That's what started the crohns for me.

Yes, Clash, that is what I was trying to find out. How does azathioprine help by suppressing the immune system if the theory is that the immune system is already weak (as opposed to the theory of an over-reactive immune system)?

From my understanding is that it suppresses the inflammatory response of the immune system. It doesn't make Crohn's an autoimmune disorder, although I can see why it allows doctors and people to define Crohn's as that. I personally think Crohn's is an umbrella name for a bunch of diff problems in the gut, definitely multiple causes.

Interesting stuff here! I have major dental issues and have had since crohns started. Just out of interest does too much lactic acid cause extreme muscle fatigue? not sure on this, but perhaps someone can answer for me.

Speaking as a lay person, and not very scientifically knowledgable, please can you explain how, if CD is caused by a weakened immune system, how is it that drugs which suppress the immune system then improve my symptoms?

There are different parts of the immune system. It is like one part is yelling fire, fire, help, help, and the other part isn't strong enough to put out the fire. So, the first part just keeps yelling louder and louder and causing more inflammation. Your doctor then gives you something to control the inflammation. Your doctor often doesn't have a drug to give you that will put out the fire on a permanent basis. However, you can change your body chemistry such that it is able to put out most fires.

When there is yeast overgrowth, the humoral arm of the immune system tends to be over-active and the cellular arm of the immune system tends to be too weak to remove the yeast. When the humoral arm of the immune system is overactive, you often end up with allergies and inflammation. When the cellular immune system is underactive, the body has a hard time getting rid of yeast and certain other infections.

To get rid of yeast, you want to improve the strength of the cellular immune system. One way to do this is to bring up the energy of the cells. Anything you can do to improve the energy producing capacity of your cells should help. This means making sure the cells have vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in the correct balance; making sure the cells have fuel and enough thyroid to produce energy; and making sure there aren't too many heavy metals and toxins in the body that may throw a monkey wrench into the energy making machinery.

Unfortunately, yeast and bacteria create toxins that interfere with your vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and fuel. They are smart. They don't want your cellular immune system to be too strong. Yeast go about this in some very devious ways. For one thing, they create Prostaglandin PGE2, which increases inflammation and increases the body's production of estrogen. Estrogen lowers thyroid and cellular immunity. Estrogen encourages the growth of yeast. Yeast even create estradiol, a strong estrogen.

Yeast also interfere with your body's absorption of coenzyme Q10. They take the coenzyme Q10 in your food, and turn it into a different form --- one that they can use, but not you. Coenzyme Q10 / ubiquinol is one of the things you need for cellular energy.

Yeast also create acetaldehyde. The acetaldehyde really does a number on your body. Have you ever felt like you couldn't think easily? That could be due to the yeast's acetaldehyde lowering your acetylcholine. With lowered acetylcholine, you have difficulty thinking, your vagus nerve isn't able to trigger proper digestive actions, your spleen isn't activated to produce anti-inflammatory substances, and you feel tired.

The acetaldehyde also interferes with the body's ability to turn vitamin B6 into its active form (pyridoxal-5-phosphate, or P5P). Acetaldehyde causes you to dump the amino acid taurine into your urine. The acetaldehyde interferes with your ability to create methyl-folate. You need the methyl-folate to turn your niacin into its active forms of NAD and NADH. These are needed for energy production and clear thinking. You also need the methyl-folate for clearing toxins out of your body. You need the methyl-folate to create your neurotransmitters, like serotonin and dopamine. The acetaldehyde interferes with the creation of your Tregs which are needed to help calm things down after an infection.

The acetaldehyde also lowers your cholesterol. You might say good, finally something good about the acetaldehyde that is produced by yeast. Nope. Not so fast. The cholesterol protects your body from the toxins generated in your gut. The cholesterol helps your body eliminate things like strep, staph and TB. Cholesterol is needed for your T cell formation. Cholesterol is also very important for your brain's functioning. If your total cholesterol drops below 160, you can get sick, depressed and not able to think well. Here is a video on why you want your cholesterol levels above 160 mg/dl. If need be, you can purchase supplements of cholesterol to help bring it up. Vitamin C, fruit and coconut oil can be helpful in bringing cholesterol levels up. (Coconut oil will lower high cholesterol, but bring up cholesterol when it is too low.)

The acetaldehyde breaks down elastin. (It activates MMP-9) The acetaldehyde attaches to / forms adducts with your neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, making them unavailable for your use. The acetaldehyde gets rid of your asparagine, alpha ketoglutaric acid, glutamine and glutamate. The acetladehyde alters your ratio of NAD/NADH, which are forms of niacin.

To get rid of the yeast / fungus on a permanent basis, you need to get rid of the reason it started and correct all the imbalances and nutritional deficiencies it created.

I used to have yeast overgrowth in my intestines. Fortunately, I never got Crohn's like my cousin did. However, the yeast overgrowth has been the bane of my life. That is why I've studied it and tried so many different things to get rid of it. If it wouldn't be too forward, in another post, I will outline some ideas that may help keep fungus / yeast levels down in the body. Is that acceptable on this list? If not, I can just give you some links to look at.

Just out of interest does too much lactic acid cause extreme muscle fatigue? thanks

Yes. Lactic acid will increase muscle fatigue. The lactic acid may be coming from the gut. It can also be manufactured locally if the cells are having trouble getting enough oxygen and creating energy.

Do you have fibromyalgia? People with fibromyalgia have muscle pain, joint pain, and trouble sleeping. There are tender trigger points near areas where blood flow may be restricted. There is fibrin formation that may be interfering with circulation. According to the work of Dr. Pimentel, his fibromyalgia patients had very bad cases of Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO). The small intestine is not supposed to have a lot of bacteria in it. However, if there is an overgrowth of bacteria there, the bacteria get to your food before you do. They turn your carbohydrates into D-lactic acid.

With fibromyalgia, a person is exposed to excessive serotonin in its free state. This increases fibrin formation. In general, to control the way serotonin is used, and to reduce fibrin formation, Raymond Peat suggests the following: magnesium, niacinamide, taurine, glycine, saturated fats, thyroid hormone, antihistamines, antioxidants and other anti-inflammatory agents to help reduce or reverse fibrogenic processes.

I would like to add, that you will need methyl-folate to use your niacinamide. The methyl-folate may be low due to mercury, acetaldehyde from yeast, or a genetic polymorphism of the MTHFr gene. There is a lot of information about MTHFr and the various forms of folate at mthfr.net

I'm presently a moderator at a yahoo group called SIBOnation. If you have fibromyalgia, join us and ask a few questions.

I used to have yeast overgrowth in my intestines. Fortunately, I never got Crohn's like my cousin did. However, the yeast overgrowth has been the bane of my life. That is why I've studied it and tried so many different things to get rid of it. If it wouldn't be too forward, in another post, I will outline some ideas that may help keep fungus / yeast levels down in the body. Is that acceptable on this list? If not, I can just give you some links to look at.

Nice post, and I'd find it interesting to learn further about the nutrient robbing properties yeast can bring about, along with ways to deal with it. Along similar lines, something I've taken an interest in of late is learning about anti-nutrients found in different foods, such as wheat, beans, nightshades, etc.

An oversimplified explanation is that a weakened immune system fights the pathogen, which causes inflammation. In a normal, strong immune system the pathogen is eliminated and the inflammation goes away also. The weakened immune system just keeps on fighting the pathogens, but never eliminates them. Then you have chronic inflammation.

You can further weaken the immune system so it will not fight the pathogen and if you get it right enough, you will quell the inflammation with it.

Or, you can strengthen the immune system which allows for the reduction of the pathogens and a reduction of the inflammation.

It is an oversimplification, but the principle is close enough.

Dan

__________________
Nothing I post here is to be construed as medical advice. I am not a doctor or health professional.
They are simply my opinions.

I I also have a disease of the bladder called interstitial cystits in which "they" say is autoimmune. But oddly enough, I only get relief while on certain antibiotics! I have had to be on low dose antibitoics for over 4 years now as that is the ONLY thing that brings me relief.

I know someone who got rid of her interstitial cystitis by clearing up her gut. I think it is because certain bacteria create toxins that affect the tight junctions (cause leaky gut). Those toxins show up in the urine. I assume they do the same thing to the bladder. However, most people with IC say it is due to high oxylates in their urine. You can get your urine tested for oxlylates at the Great Plains Laboratory. The oxalates are created by certain bacteria and yeast. It is a fairly common problem in autism. There is a low oxalate diet that some of the kids with autism must follow. If you join one of their lists, you can find out what they do about it. For instance, right now, the best probiotic to use is VSL#3 for this condition. Later, they are hoping for a better one. 20 minutes before a meal, you take some calcium and magnesium taurate or citrate. The minerals will combine with the oxylates in your food and those created by the bacteria / yeast.

Here is a video by Dr. Kurt Woeller on the subject of oxalates and what to do about them. It is available for free for the next few days.

Nice post, and I'd find it interesting to learn further about the nutrient robbing properties yeast can bring about, along with ways to deal with it. Along similar lines, something I've taken an interest in of late is learning about anti-nutrients found in different foods, such as wheat, beans, nightshades, etc.

This is my current understanding of things that will help eliminate yeast overgrowth. This isn’t a perfect list, especially since I’m not that familiar with Crohn’s and colitis. The list doesn’t represent medical advice. Use the list with caution and with the advice of your physician.

This list of remedies is based mainly on replacing the nutrients that yeast deplete, and removing the factors that contribute to yeast overgrowth. However, you may not tolerate everything on this list. There are genetics to consider and past toxin exposures. So, this list needs to be used with some testing and/or experimentation in mind. Slowly introduce a supplement that seems to be what you need. Then if you feel worse, stop and try something different on the list. Later, you may be able to tolerate the original supplement. Everything needs balance.

I believe a general strategy for controlling yeast should address the following:

1. Remove much of the fuel for yeast growth, acetaldehyde production, and biofilm production.
2. Repair the nutritional damage caused by the yeast’s acetaldehyde.
3. Soak up the acetaldehyde before it does additional damage.
4. Remove heavy metals and toxins that encourage yeast growth.
5. Reduce the size of yeast colonies with the use of antifungals and things to degrade their biofilms.
6. Alter the environment in the intestines to discourage yeast colonization.
7. Remove viruses, bacteria and parasites that interfere with the body’s ability to attack and control the yeast.
8. Support thyroid, liver and kidney function to help eliminate toxins.
9. Support the cellular immune system.

LIMIT SUGAR AND CARBOHYDRATES

These allow the yeast to flourish and to create their acetaldehyde. Don’t eliminate sugars and carbohydrates completely though. Your body needs them. In particular, it would be very hard on the kidneys if you eliminated sugar and carbohydrates altogether. Besides, cutting out all sugar and carbohydrates would not kill the yeast. Yeast can live on fat and protein. If your upper intestine is clear, then you may be able to tolerate more sugars than someone else. Thyroid and natural progesterone will help your intestines absorb the sugars, leaving less for the bacteria and yeast.

RESTRICT INTAKE OF POLYUNSATURATED OILS

These increase yeast growth in low oxygen environments like the intestines. Polyunsaturated oils also encourage the formation of yeast biofilms. However, a small amount of fish oil and / or primrose oil may be of some help even though they are polyunsaturated. Use mainly saturated and monosaturated oils. Use mainly olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil and organic butter. (Animals store pesticides in their fat. That is why you want organic butter.) Get organic grass fed butter if possible, because the butter from grass fed animals will contain the anti-inflammatory vitamin K2.

FAT SOLUBLE VITAMINS (A, D, E AND K2)

These work best when kept in balance. These are all anti-inflammatory and they help to improve the gut flora. In particular, vitamin K2 lowers PGE2. Yeast create PGE2. You don’t want excess PGE2 because it increases the body’s production of estrogen and encourages yeast growth. (If you don’t tolerate vitamin A, you might want to change brands and/ or try some zinc first.)

REDUCE ESTROGEN EXPOSURE

Birth control pills are notorious for causing yeast overgrowth. So, if possible, get rid of them. However, I realize that with Crohn’s sometimes the birth control pills are helpful. I don’t fully understand that.

Many women who are ill have an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. During the last two weeks of a woman’s cycle, one will often find an excess of estrogen relative to progesterone. This encourages yeast growth. (Dr. John Lee has several books about this. There is also a good book by Raymond Peat, PhD about this.)

There was an experiment done with mice. They removed the ovaries, then they treated one group with estrogen and the other group with natural progesterone. Those treated with estrogen got yeast infections. Those treated with progesterone did not. So, to balance a woman’s hormones, you might think it safe to give some natural progesterone during the last two weeks of her cycle. However, anecdotal evidence suggests that when this is first tried, there may be an initial flare of yeast symptoms. I’m speculating that this many have to do with the progesterone pushing stored estrogen out of cells. (When progesterone goes in, estrogen comes out mainly in the sulfated form.)

You need the sulfates for the estrogen to leave the cells and get transported to the liver for disposal. If you are low on sulfates, you might have some trouble with adding in the natural progesterone.

I believe natural progesterone can be helpful if there is an estrogen / progesterone imbalance. However, I would start with correcting a thyroid problem first, assuming it exists. Correcting the thyroid should help correct the estrogen / progesterone ratio. If the adrenals are weak, you may need to add the progesterone, since natural progesterone is very good support for the adrenals.

Stop using the artificial progesterone shot for birth control. This shot contains a form of progesterone that is foreign to the body. It ends up reducing your indigenous levels of natural progesterone. This creates an imbalance between natural progesterone and estrogen in the body. (Natural progesterone is the kind of progesterone that the body produces. It is different than the kind of progesterone found in the birth control shot and in most pharmaceuticals.)

Pesticides and plastics are also estrogen-like. Remove as much of them as possible from the diet. Stop using styrofoam cups for your hot drinks. They are a source of estrogen like compounds. Be careful with herbs that contain phytoestrogens. Large amounts of phytoestrogens are just as bad as estrogen.

CALCIUM-D-GLUCARATE

If you also have Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO), consider using calcium-d-glucarate to counteract the bacteria’s effect on your body’s elimination system. Calcium-d-glucarate helps the body eliminate excess estrogen by blocking an enzyme that the SIBO bacteria create. Gradually work up the dose of calcium-d-glucarate to 3 pills, three times a day, with your meals. If you wish to stop the calcium-d-glucarate, do so gradually to avoid a spike in estrogen.

THYROID

This helps keep estrogen levels under control. It also improves the immune system and helps the body get rid of the yeast. It is often low when one has yeast overgrowth. (For one reason, the yeast’s production of acetaldehyde interferes with the g proteins signaling of the thyroid gland.) Read about thyroid first and then seek an alternative doctor for a trial of natural thyroid. (Broda Barnes, MD has a good introductory book called Hypothyroidism: the Unsuspected Illness.)

NIACINAMIDE

This disrupts the growth of yeast and their creation of biofilms. Byron Richards, ND, has found that 250 mg to 1000 mg is helpful for his yeast patients. The niacinamide may also help control anxiety.

METHYL-FOLATE

The creation of methyl-folate is hampered by the yeast toxin acetaldehyde. You need methyl-folate to provide the methyl groups to process the niacinamide into its active NAD and NADH forms. Methyl-folate is also important for blood flow in the brain and peripheral circulation. Methyl-folate is the only form of folate that crosses the blood brain barrier. There it is needed to create your neurotransmitters.

INOSITOL AND CHOLINE

These don’t directly help get rid of the yeast. Instead, they help balance the effects of niacinamide on the body. Choline may be low if the body hasn’t had enough methyl-folate for a while. The body will use your choline to provide methyl groups if it doesn’t have the methyl-folate. Inositol tends to increase movement in the intestines. Niacinamide tends to slow things down. You need a proper balance of these two vitamins for proper motor control.

PANTETHINE AND MOLYBDENUM

These help the body dispose of acetaldehyde. The pantethine also helps your body create taurine and acetylcholine. The acetylcholine is important for cognition, for stomach acid production, and for the functioning of the vagus nerve. Pantethine also helps create coenzyme A. Coenzyme A is important for energy production and for the detoxification of acetaldehyde. Byron Richards, ND, has found that pantethine is particularly helpful in eliminating yeast overgrowth. The pantethine is also helpful in increasing the growth of Bifido bacteria. Here is an important quote from a excellent article on using pantethine and molybdenum to remove acetaldehyde.

This is found in tea, but you can also get pills of it. Theanine accelerates the liver’s removal of acetaldehyde. It also protects the liver by reducing the liver’s loss of glutathione. Theanine has a calming / anti-anxiety effect for many who try this. http://www.lef.org/magazine/mag2006/...heanine_01.htm

MSM SULFUR

Many people have found this helpful. This kills yeast and certain parasites. MSM will also help your body replace the sulfur that the yeast toxin acetaldehyde has removed. Start slow and gradually work up to more. Be consistent. MSM crystals are supposedly best.

MSM should be balanced with other minerals, including zinc, copper, molybdenum, selenium and calcium. (Eg, if you take a lot of sulfur, then you may need more copper, molybdenum, selenium and calcium.) However, if you are low on sulfur, your body will substitute selenium for some of the usual purposes of sulfur. Hence low sulfur may mean you are also low on selenium.

MSM isn’t always tolerated. Sometimes this occurs if one is mercury poisoned. If this happens, try sulfates instead. (Epsom salt baths are a source of sulfates. Before embarking on these baths, test your bathtub to make sure your tub glaze does not have lead in it.) If you don’t tolerate MSM, you might want to try some molybdenum first. It might help you tolerate the MSM.

PANCREATIC and DIGESTIVE ENZYMES

This helps to break up yeast biofilms, and it helps you to digest your food. Many people find this helpful. Be careful with the “plant enzymes” or the enzymes that are not from dried pancreas. These enzymes are made using a mold. You may be allergic. Be especially careful if you have asthma.

COPPER / ZINC RATIO

If you don’t know your zinc / copper ratio, it would probably be best to take both these minerals along with a little manganese. The usual supplementation ratio is one part copper to between seven and fourteen parts zinc. The Great Plains Laboratory has a test for the ratio of zinc to copper, and it also measures the amount of bound and unbound copper.

ZINC

Zinc is often low. One reason is that the aldehydes from yeast will release zinc from protein sites. Estrogen also wastes zinc. You need the zinc for healthy intestines, including the ability to transport the vitamin A from the liver. However, be careful with the amount of zinc you use. If your zinc goes too high, you are more likely to have trouble with yeast growth. Too much zinc can also be a problem because it may lower copper, iron, manganese and molybdenum levels too far. A convenient, albeit not perfect, way to monitor zinc is with Zinc Tally by Metagenics. To increase your zinc levels, consider using the Metagentics Zinc Drink, as this liquid form is easier for your body to absorb.

COPPER

Copper is often high. If copper is high, then you can use vitamin C, zinc, sulfur, B6 and/or molybdenum to bring copper levels down. Cysteine will also lower copper, but it is important not to use cysteine for this purpose, at least not at first. Cysteine supplementation may make you sick if copper levels are quite high. Cysteine sometimes will increase yeast growth. Like with other minerals, balance is key. Not too much copper and not too little. You need copper for many purposes in the body. If copper is low, a good way to bring it up, in my opinion, is with copper bound to sebacate. For me personally, copper measured low, but I got worse when I took plain copper. Yet, copper sebacate made me healthier. This form is easier for your cells to use. Liver is a good source of copper and the B vitamins your body needs to use the copper.

CAREFUL WITH CYSTEINE

Cysteine attaches to acetaldehyde. It is very protective for this reason. However, some people have noticed that a supplement of cysteine increases yeast growth in them. Cysteine may not be tolerated if you are high in copper.

VITAMIN C

Most of the time, high dose vitamin C can be helpful when you have yeast overgrowth. Vitamin C counters the oxidative stress caused by the yeast’s acetaldehyde. Vitamin C also helps lower histamine, which may be high due to the allergies associated with yeast overgrowth.

However, caution is warranted with high dose vitamin C if you also have high oxalates along with high free copper. It may make the oxalate problem worse. A moderate amount of vitamin C would be fine in this situation though.

MAGNESIUM

This is very important for many functions in the body. It may be low because of the lack of taurine and because magnesium is poorly absorbed when the gut is inflamed. (Taurine helps you retain magnesium. Taurine is lost due to the yeast.)

LOW OXYLATE DIET

This diet may be necessarily if your urinary oxalate level is high. Oxalates lower your biotin and interfere with your coenzyme A. Coenzyme A is already quite low due to the yeast’s acetaldehyde. (Coenzyme A is not related to vitamin A. It is a substance needed for energy production and to create acetylcholine.) If you have high oxylates, join one of the discussion lists that talk about this problem. One of the things you can do is take your magnesium and calcium in the form of citrate or taurate. Using these minerals 20 minutes before a meal will help bind / mop up oxylates.

CHOLESTEROL

Get enough cholesterol in your diet. Cholesterol protects the body from bacterial toxins generated in the gut. It helps kill staph, strep and tuberculosis. It helps create T cells. It is needed for the formation of bile and for the creation of all your hormones. The body doesn’t function well if the cholesterol blood levels drop below 160 mg/dl. When rats are injected with the yeast toxin acetaldehyde, their cholesterol levels drop.

ELIMINATE H. PYLORI

The H. pylori keeps you from creating stomach acid. The stomach acid helps you to get rid of yeast. Unfortunately, you can’t just add in a stomach acid supplement when you have H. pylori, because that may make the infection worse. (You need to work on the H. pylori and the yeast at the same time, since H. pylori can hide within yeast.)

Often the tests for H. pylori don't find it, even though it is present. So, doctors sometimes resort to checking for H. pylori markers. For instance, H. pylori gets rid of your manganese, lithium, copper, iron, B12, carnitine, phospholipids and arginine. If some of these are low, your doctor's suspicions might be raised. (Some of these markers might still look normal for various reasons.) There is also possible high readings of ammonia, seberic or taurine. Cadmium and bismuth readings may be high, even without chelation.

H. pylori can hide within yeast cells. So, part of your strategy for eliminating H. pylori should include reducing the yeast population. Lactoferrin is useful here because it helps break up yeast biofilms and it stops the growth of H. pylori. Adding in lactoferrin to your usual triple antibiotic treatment improves the outcome considerably. When you take lactoferrin along with the triple antibiotics, you have a 92% cure rate compared to a 71% cure rate without it.

Two antifungal drugs, Diflucan and Nizoral are also particularly useful. Diflucan and Nizoral kill many types of yeast and they also kill H. pylori. (We often think of antifungals as only killing yeast and fungus, but they also have some antibacterial properties.)

Taking some bicarbonates along with your therapy also helps with the eradication of the H. pylori. The bicarbonates disorient the H. pylori and make them more vulnerable.

Glycine is inexpensive, and might be of use here too.

"When combined with amoxicillin, a common generic antibiotic, glycine reduced by a factor of 10 the amount of amoxicillin needed to kill the troublesome bacteria."

There is a whole host of things you can use to get rid of H. pylori without resorting to prescription antibiotics. In this long video, Dr. Amy Yasko explains the nature of H. pylori infection and how to get rid of it.

If you want to know more about this, it is probably best to join the discussion group for Dr. Amy Yasko’s protocols. I get the impression that there can be a lot more to this.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD

Avoid food that has been genetically modified. Doctors and scientists have found that these foods increase gut inflammation and are more likely to cause allergies. The Roundup pesticide, which is used on most of these GMO foods, is also particularly hard on the gut. Doctors who tell their patients to remove these GMO foods are getting faster improvements in their patients with gut problems. Later, the patients are able to reintroduce these foods in their natural non-GMO form without relapsing.

Currently, in the United States, food that has been genetically modified is not labeled as such. However, there is a way to avoid using it. Almost all the corn and soy grown in the USA is genetically modified. So, don’t eat corn or soy unless it is labeled organic. (Organic products are not genetically modified.) Sugar beets, crook neck squash, zucchini, and papaya might also be genetically modified unless they are labeled organic. Canola and cotton seed oils are often from genetically modified plants. Don’t eat them.

Here is a link to a video talking about how the Roundup pesticide and genetically modified foods can cause SIBO. Roundup and GM food can cause an increase in allergies, leaky gut, Clostridia and E. coli overgrowth, and gluten intolerance. Also Roundup and GM foods can cause a decrease in pancreatic enzymes, a decrease in the ability to detoxify, and a decrease in fat soluble vitamins. (Roundup interferes with CCK, which then causes less bile release or gallbladder stasis. Without the release of bile, the liver can’t get rid of toxins and the intestines can absorb fat soluble vitamins.)

The Roundup pesticide kills off bacteria in the gut, but leaves Clostridia and E. coli alone. Thus, when you are exposed to this pesticide, Clostridia and E. coli will have less competition; and you are more likely to end up with an overgrowth of Clostridia or E. coli bacteria. This could make you quite ill. They have already seen an increased problem with Clostridia overgrowth in animals fed Roundup ready plants. I wonder if that is why our hospitals are dealing with an increased problem with Clostridia.

STOMACH ACID

This will help eliminate yeast. However, don’t supplement with this if you have H. pylori.

BENFOTIAMINE

This is a form of vitamin B1. It will help repair the nervous system. It is also anti-inflammatory, and it helps eliminate heavy metals. The yeast’s acetaldehyde has depleted vitamin B1. (Mercury will deplete this vitamin as well.) If you are low on vitamin B1, you may want to start replacing it slowly to allow the body a chance to get used to having it again.

TAURINE

This has been depleted by yeast. Start slow if you try this. It will release some toxins from storage. It has many benefits, including reducing allergic reactions and migraines. However, if you have H. pylori, taurine might be high. If you have certain genetics, taurine might be high. If you don’t tolerate taurine, start with some molybdenum to help your body convert possibly high taurine into sulfates.

UBIQUINOL OR COENZYME Q10

The absorption of this has been lowered by the presence of yeast. It will help you bring your cellular energy levels back up. Cellular energy is important for your cell mediated immune system. That is the arm of the immune system that fights yeast. I believe ubiquinol is usually a better supplement than coenzyme Q10.

ALPHA KETOGLUTARATE AND MALATE

These may be low. They are needed to bring your cellular energy back up. The alpha ketoglutarate doesn’t keep well, so don’t purchase more than you need for immediate use.

GELATIN

This will help repair the gut lining. However, not everyone can tolerate it.

COENZYME B6 (PYRIDOXAL-5-PHOSPHATE

This is low because of the yeast. It is important for many functions in the body, including energy production. It is delicate, so take it at a separate time from your other supplements.

ANTI-VIRALS

Some viruses alter your prostaglandin profile in such a way that encourages yeast growth. Therefore an anti-viral program may help you eliminate the yeast.

SELENIUM

Selenium will be low if you have mercury or certain viruses. The form of selenium called selenocysteine may be particularly low because the yeast toxin acetaldehyde lowers P5P. P5P is required for the enzymes that convert selenium into selenocysteine. Bringing your selenium levels back up will help your body convert thyroid into its active form. Selenium will also help eliminate certain viruses.

ELIMINATE HEAVY METALS

Mercury is notorious for causing yeast overgrowth. It interferes with the enzyme that removes the yeast’s acetaldehyde. Clean the mercury and other heavy metals out of the body.

SUPPORT LIVER AND KIDNEYS

These organs help you eliminate toxins from your body. Toxins interfere with your ability to eliminate yeast. Saunas, homeopathics and mild exercise are some of the ways to eliminate the toxins.

BREAK UP YEAST BIOFILMS

These are shelters for infections / pathogens. More than one infection can coexist in a biofilm. Think of a biofilm as sticky substances secreted by the pathogens in which they hide. This is a shelter that your body can't easily attack. The shelter uses minerals for its structural stability and sticky stuff to hold it together. Sort of like building a house out of bricks and mortar. When the biofilm is broken up, sometimes there is a significant release of heavy metals that had been trapped in the biofilm. Sometimes that will trigger growth of yeast or other pathogens. Sometimes the person will experience a reaction to the pathogens that can now be recognized by the immune system. When using a biofilm removal protocol, one must be prepared for new symptoms and new pathogens that need to be treated.

If antibiotics and antifungals, and chelation doesn’t seem to be doing their job, then you need to go to the next step --- that is the removal of biofilms. This will make the antifungals, anti-virals, and antibiotics work better. Since biofilms can be harboring toxic metals, when you break these biofilms up, sometimes there will be a dramatic release of toxic metals that weren’t reached with simple chelation approaches.

There are several different biofilm removal protocols. They consist of enzymes and things to pull out minerals from the biofilms (EDTA or lactoferrin), followed by things to kill the organisms hiding in the biofilms, followed by things to absorb the toxins, metals and debri released. (A separation of anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours is used between each supplement.) However, before going on this full biofilm removal protocol, you need to test each product to see if it is tolerated. The first one to check is your tolerance to the absorptive materials. That way, if you have a bad reaction to one of the other products, you will have something safe to help stop the reaction.

3. One or two hours later, take absorptive products to mop up the toxins released. (At first, I’d suggest that you start with less time in-between, for a more gentle protocol.) Absorptive material may include charcoal, Pectasol (modified citrus pectin),Brown Algae, Destroxin zeolite, TruFiber (New Beginnings product), and / or apple pectin.

The amount of these products to take will depend on the individual. Always start with a little and work up to more. You don’t want to make yourself sick. Here is a post by someone who tried too much at first. However, with time, she was able to tolerate a full dose of the products. www.cpnhelp.org/interphaseplus_and_biofil

Here is another biofilm removal protocol that mentions the use of homeopathics. This one is by Dr. Ettinger.

The interfase product is a mixture of enzymes. The biofilm Reduction Activity of InterFase ® has been documented invitro for these organisms:

Escherichia coli

Staphylococcus aureus MRSA

Helicobacter pylori

Streptococcus pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae

Streptococcus pyogenes

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Candida paratropicalis

Staphylococcus aureus

FATS AND BIOFILM

Polyunsaturated fats provide the raw material for biofilm formation. Here is an excerpt from one of Byron Richard’s articles. In this article Byron is refuting someone’s assertion that stearic acid ( a saturated fatty acid) will increase biofilm formation. Saturated fats do not contribute to the biofilm.

“Biofilms are germ gangs. They assemble based on a quorum-sensing signal, like a bell tolling in the field telling farmers to come to town and pick up weapons and go to war. Biofilms in your digestive tract, such as Candida albicans biofilms or other bacterial biofilms are extremely problematic to human health.

These biofilm gangs need a fuel source to keep reproducing and growing. That fuel source is never a saturated fat because there is no point of biochemistry interaction in a saturated fat.

For example, a Candida albicans biofilm fuels its reproduction based on your intake of highly polyunsaturated fatty acids. This means that if you eat a bag of potato chips, corn chips, or French fries and you have a Candida biofilm, you just poured gas on the fire. Candida inserts oxygen molecules into the unsaturated bonds of the fatty acids (the more unsaturated bonds the better from Candida’s point of view) forming a highly toxic inflammatory signal called an oxylipin. Oxylipins are reproductive growth factors for the biofilm. It is technically impossible to insert an oxygen molecule into a saturated fat, which is why it is not possible for stearic acid to promote biofilm growth.”

PROBIOTICS

Use probiotics after you have eliminated protozoa. Some protozoa feed on probiotics. Add in some colostrum at the same time.

ANTI-FUNGALS

Use anti-fungal herbs and prescriptions. If you first get a test to see which yeast is present, you can do a better job of choosing an effective anti-fungal. Often the lab will tell you which anti-fungal is most effective against your type of yeast. If you don’t have lab results, try one anti-fungal, and if it doesn’t help, try another.

CURCUMIN

This may be particularly helpful in that it is anti-inflammatory, kills yeast, and eliminates certain parasites. However, curcumin might reduce iron levels. You need enough iron, but not too much. If you are low on iron, lactoferrin is a good way to bring up iron levels without letting bacteria and pathogens get to the iron first. The lactoferrin also helps get rid of biofilms.

BERBERINE

This is anti-fungal and it lowers blood sugar. If one is diabetic, this antifungal is a decent consideration. Be careful though. It may lower blood sugar too much.

IODINE

This has antifungal properties. However, it is very important to use the correct amount. Not too much and not too little. Also a steady small dose is easier on the body than occasional large doses. Unfortunately, the yeast toxin acetaldehyde reacts with iodine making the iodine unavailable for the enzymes in the body. The most accurate measurement of iodine is via urine.

COCONUT OIL, PALM OIL, LAURACIDIN

These kill yeast and some viruses. Start slowly. Don’t use more than a teaspoon per day to start. If you add the warmed oil to a grated carrot salad, the roughage will help bring the oil into the latter part of the intestines.

WONDRO

This is an old remedy that removes acetaldehyde and breaks up yeast biofilms. Wondro is something that can be made at home, so long as it is done in small batches. It has many strikingly good testimonials to its credit. However, I don’t have any personal experience with this. Here is a link to an old testimonial booklet and another link to a modern ebook about why Wondro works.

Polly, i think congratulations might be in order! is that the longest post on Crohns forum? lol, it will take me a while to assimilate that, think i shall print it out and go through it slowly. But thanks a great deal for bothering to share information with us that haven't come across such research.

I'm going to give you some more late night reading material. I hope it is helpful.

You might want to pay special attention to the methyl-folate supplement. Not only does the yeast toxin interfere with its formation, but a genetic problem with creating it seems to be prevalent in Crohn's and colitis.

Start slow with adding in methyl-folate. If you don't feel right with it, try taking some niacinamide. You need to balance your methyl-folate with niacinamide. There is also a need to balance your methyl-folate with methyl-B12.

This means that both your mom and dad may have given you a genetic weakness in creating methyl-folate. In the conclusion of that abstract, the author suggested that people with Crohn's and colitis may need more folic acid and B12. However, you need to be careful with which forms of these you use. Folic acid is not the same thing as folate or methyl-folate. In fact if you inherit the same C677T weakness from both your parents, you should probably try to avoid sources of folic acid. Folic acid is the form of the vitamin they put in bread and enriched flour products. It is also the form found in most vitamin supplements. Folic acid can build up in the blood and interfere with the use of your methyl-folate. When you hear about a study saying folic acid supplementation was associated with colon cancer, that may very well be true, because it was folic acid, not folate. Excess "folic acid" is toxic and cancer causing. (This is talked about at the MTHFR.net website.)

You may need some methyl-B12 to balance your methyl-folate. Each person will be different in the proportions they need to supplement. The lack of B12 may be related to excess bacteria in the small intestine (SIBO). It is hard to say which vitamin you need the most. Here is something I wrote for a SIBO group about methyl-folate and methyl-B12.

B12 AND FOLATE BALANCE

With SIBO, folic acid /folate levels are sometimes high. We don’t know if it is caused by the bacteria creating folates or something else. One potential reason is that you need B12 to use the folates, and B12 is often low with SIBO. Another potential problem is the presence of antibodies to folate receptors. This may cause high levels of folates in the blood, but low levels in the cells.

Methyl-folate should be kept in balance with methyl-B12. The two work together. An excess of one may suppress the other. With SIBO, usually it is the B12 that is low, and the folic acid / folate that is high. Therefore, perhaps start your experimentation with the methyl-B12 or the hydroxy-B12. (The hydroxyl-B12 converts into methyl-B12 and adenosyl-B12 in the body.) There is another reason to start with the B12. According to Wikipedia,

“Patients with megaloblastic anemia need to be tested for vitamin B12 deficiency before folate treatment, because if the patient has vitamin B12 deficiency, folate supplementation can remove the anemia, but can also worsen neurologic problems.”

However, there is always the possibility that you may need more folate. Antibodies to milk casein are known to interfere with the use of folates. Acetaldehyde from yeast overgrowth will interfere with the absorption of folate and its conversion to methyl-folate. (The acetylaldehyde lowers Coenzyme A, which is needed for the enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of formyl-folate into methyl-folate.) Heavy metals, especially arsenic, will interfere with the folates. Certain drugs will interfere with the absorption or metabolism of folate. Some of these are Metformin / Glucophage, Warfarin/Coumadin, Methyltrexate, Triamterene, sulfasalazine, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, anti-seizure drugs, retinoid acne pills and birth control pills Dialysis will remove folates. Alcohol consumption will lower methyl-folate.

TYPES OF FOLIC ACID / FOLATE / VITAMIN B9

Vitamin B9 is usually referred to as folic acid, even though folic acid is just the synthetic form of this vitamin. If one were to be more exact, the term folic acid would only be used to refer to the fully oxidized synthetic compound known as pteroylmonoglutamic acid. This is the form of vitamin B9 found in most vitamin supplements and in fortified flour.

The body will try to convert the synthetic folic acid into dihydrofolate and then into 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate and then into 5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate. Unfortunately, up to 60 percent of the people in the USA have at least some genetic trouble converting folic acid into these various folates. This conversion process can also be thwarted by heavy metals, alcohol, solvents, chemicals, toxins, certain antibiotics or drugs, and the acetaldehyde produced by yeast. Because of these conversion problems, other forms of vitamin B9 have now become available on the market.

If the body is having trouble converting folic acid into a more useable form, then ingesting folic acid may result in a build-up of folic acid in the blood. Some people are very sensitive to this build-up of folic acid and feel better when they avoid all food and supplements that have been fortified with the synthetic folic acid. One possible reason for their sensitivity is that a build-up of folic acid in the blood can actually interfere with methyl-folate (5-methyl-tetrahydrofolate) crossing the blood brain barrier. Methyl-folate is the only form of vitamin B9 that crosses the blood-brain barrier. There it is needed to help create your brain’s neurotransmitters, like serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. When the brain doesn’t get enough methyl-folate, one may suffer from depression, migraines, foggy thinking, irritability and many other brain symptoms.

According to Wikipedia,

“Common symptoms of folate deficiency include diarrhea, macrocytic anemia with weakness or shortness of breath, nerve damage with weakness and limb numbness (peripheral neuropathy)[citation needed], pregnancy complications, mental confusion, forgetfulness or other cognitive declines, mental depression, sore or swollen tongue, peptic or mouth ulcers, headaches, heart palpitations, irritability, and behavioral disorders. Low levels of folate can also lead to homocysteine accumulation.[7] DNA synthesis and repair are impaired and this could lead to cancer development.”

Dr. Ben Lynch has a surprisingly long list of things that could be caused by the lack of methyl-folate. This is his list as of December 6, 2012

One might be able to add Raynaud’s to that list, since folate is low and it is needed for circulation.
WHEN NOT TO TAKE METHYL-FOLATEhttp://mthfr.net/taking-folate-and-f...ce/2011/11/15/
According to this reference, if you methionine levels are high, then you might not tolerate the methyl-folate because it could raise methionine levels even higher. If your methionine levels are high, this doctor suggests trying P5P and magnesium first to help bring methionine levels down. Then you may be able to tolerate the methyl-folate.
Some people may have to start slowly, because the methyl-folate may open up microcirculation. When you first open up microcirculation, you may experience some inflammation or uncomfortable reactions.

WHERE TO PURCHASE METHYL-FOLATE AND FORMYL-FOLATE

Formyl-folate also goes by the names of formyltetrahydrofolate, folinic acid and leucovorin (prescription). If you are looking to purchase some formyl-folate, most vitamin supplements call it folinic acid. The other form available as a supplement is methyl-folate. It also goes by the names of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, and 5-MTHF. The vitamin supplements using this form call it a whole host of different names.
Life Extension calls their methyl-folate product Optimized Folate, and Metagenics calls their product FolaPro. Solgar calls their product just Folate. Nutricology calls their product QuatreActiv Folate. Jarrow calls their product Methyl-folate. Vitacost calls their product Bioavailable Folate. Thorne Research calls their product 5-MTHF. XYMOGEN® also calls their product 5-MTHF. These products contain anywhere from 0.4 to 1 mg per pill.

However, there are a couple of higher dose products if you need them. The price per unit active ingredient is cheaper with these. So, if you need a higher dose, use these instead of taking a lot of the lower dose pills. Neurobiologix sells Methyl-folate Plus and 5-MTHF. Each of these contains 5 mg per pill as well. However, there is also some folinic acid and niacinamide in the Methyl-folate Plus product. (So, it costs a bit more.) When you take into account the dose, these two Neurobiologix methyl-folate products are considerably cheaper per unit than the other products that I’ve seen on the market.

There are two prescription products that contain methyl-folate --- Deplin and Metanx. Deplin is specifically marketed as useful for treating depression. It is a high potency product containing 7.5 or 15 mg of methyl-folate per pill. (Rather expensive.) Another prescription that contains methyl-folate is Metanx. This prescription is used to treat diabetic neuropathy. It contains about 3 mg of methyl-folate per pill along with some other B vitamins in their active coenzyme form.
If you find something else on the market, make sure it is the pure L form, and that it doesn’t contain the D form. Someplace on the label, the product should say L-methyltetrahydrofolate, Metafolin or Quatrefolic.

VITAMIN B12

SIBO can interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12. (The bacteria can bind intrinsic factor that is required for absorption of B12.) B12 is needed for the health of the intestinal villi and is also required for good sleep. B12 helps the body dispose of nitric oxide, and thus helps reduce inflammation. Low B12 is associated with many autoimmune diseases like Hashimoto’s. The common parasites called Giardia and Diphylobothrium latum interfere with the absorption of B12.

There are different forms of B12 including cyano, methyl, adenosyl, and hydroxy. The cyano form of B12, which contains cyanide, isn’t a good bet, especially if one is mercury poisoned. The hydroxyl converts into the methyl and the adenosyl forms in the body. So, if you have no trouble with this conversion, hydroxyl-B12 is great. Get your doctor to give you some shots of this. However, to make thing simple, probably, the best thing to try would be a combination of adenosyl-B12 and methyl-B12.

For the methyl-B12, consider using a nasal spray. This is absorbed ten times better than the sublingual. (See Stan Kurtz’s website.) Currently, there seems to be only one brand of methyl-B12 liquid on the market. It is New Beginnings Methyl-Mate. Adult dose is two sprays per day in the nostril. Sometimes improved cognitive ability is seen within as little as a minute.

There is also a more recent B12 product which is a skin cream that is absorbed very well. It is called neuro immune stabilizer cream and sold at the Neurobiologix website. There is also a liquid adenosyl-B12 available that can be used under the tongue.

Vitamin B12 and curcumin are strong scavengers of nitric oxide. Therefore they may help reduce the intestinal inflammatory response to the SIBO bacteria’s LPS (lipopolysaccaride). Niacinamide is also helpful here. It reduces the amount of nitric oxide created when the body is exposed to LPS. Together, they may be of some use when there is danger of sepsis. With sepsis, excessive nitric oxide production expands blood vessels and creates extremely low blood pressure and hence heart failure.

Another consideration. When rats are exposed to LPS, they are able to survive the onslaught with much less damage to their intestines and organs if they are on a diet that excludes polyunsaturated omega-3 and omega-6 oils. [1] Much fewer deaths result. This is another reason to avoid corn, soy, safflower, canola, peanut, flax and cottonseed oils.

Niacin or niacinamide seems to play an important role in colitis. Deficiency of niacin can cause colitis, and conversely, colitis can cause a deficiency of niacin.

If you add on top of that an inability to use niacin, due to a lack of methyl-folate, then I think you are asking for trouble.

I've already mentioned a few other benefits of adequate niacinamide. These are the fact it is anti-inflammatory and it helps slow down yeast growth and slow the formation of the yeast biofilms.

===============================
references:

"Niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency is known to cause diarrhea and colitis. ...Niacin deficiency after bariatric surgery is supported by finding low plasma niacin levels and by resolution of the symptoms of colitis during oral niacin therapy."

"Pellagra also occurred in the Southeastern United States in the early 1900’s and throughout the depression, when incomes were very low and corn products again played the major dietary role.

This deficiency can also be caused by conditions or diseases that either prevent or interfere with the absorption of niacin such as chronic alcoholism, prolonged bouts of diarrhea, and gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis. "

I have neutropenia - which means my immune system is almost non-existant.
When I challenged my GI about putting me on an immune suppressing biologic drug to manage my CD - she advised (after chuckling) that the immune supressor attacks totally different cells - presumably TNF cells.
Apparently my logic and deductive reasoning that a suppressed immune system was enough to minimize CD symptoms was extremely flawed!

Historically - I have noticed that each time I have an extra shot of neupogen to boost my immune system, I get a slight increase in diarrhea and mild cramping. My dose has just been increased to manage severe mouth ulcers - I will be interested in seeing what impact this has on my CD symptoms.

Niacin or niacinamide seems to play an important role in colitis. Deficiency of niacin can cause colitis, and conversely, colitis can cause a deficiency of niacin.

If you add on top of that an inability to use niacin, due to a lack of methyl-folate, then I think you are asking for trouble.

I've already mentioned a few other benefits of adequate niacinamide. These are the fact it is anti-inflammatory and it helps slow down yeast growth and slow the formation of the yeast biofilms.

===============================
references:

"Niacin (vitamin B3) deficiency is known to cause diarrhea and colitis. ...Niacin deficiency after bariatric surgery is supported by finding low plasma niacin levels and by resolution of the symptoms of colitis during oral niacin therapy."

"Pellagra also occurred in the Southeastern United States in the early 1900’s and throughout the depression, when incomes were very low and corn products again played the major dietary role.

This deficiency can also be caused by conditions or diseases that either prevent or interfere with the absorption of niacin such as chronic alcoholism, prolonged bouts of diarrhea, and gastrointestinal diseases such as ulcerative colitis. "

Interesting about the niacin. That is something I've been taking of late, so it isn't something I can rule out as helping. My D has all but stopped this past week. I'm a bit tired this morning, but of late I've been doing well to the gut and experiencing better energy. During this improved health time I also began taking some niacin, 500mgs twice a week. I've taken the brand Slo Niacin in the past to help with cholesterol control. (Slo Niacin found in most drug stores is pretty much the same product as prescription niacin.) This time I had a different idea in mind. I've noticed that niacin can sometimes give me very shinny hair and a nice attractive skin tone. I wondered why niacin only helped sometimes with appearance - so thought possibly this could be as a way to discover food allergies. An offending food would hurt my absorption abilities causing a poor appearance, while the opposite happens once the offending food is out of the diet - and niacin would exaggerate this. So far so good with the theory, might have found an "ugly" food. More work needs to be done though. (If, and it is a big if, the food I'm thinking is a problem maker for me, it could explain why I've gotten well to the gut in the past, but never felt I could fully recover. I apparently can eat a little of this food and not become terribly ill.)

Wanted to mention that while niacin pills are generally safe to take, if taken wrong can cause liver issues. Your doctor can test for this if concerned (liver testing is done once 1000mgs of more of niacin is taken per day.). Avoid slow release niacin. Also do not buy no flush niacin. This is a rip off, it does not work. Additionally niacin often causes an intense flushing for most that take it. The best way to limit the niacin flush is to eat some nuts with the pill, plus drink lots of water. For me, in the past before my body became used to niacin, it would cause me to turn bright red for around an hour, with a feeling of pins and needles sticking me all over. It wasn't terribly awful to experience, but I wanted to avoid being in public when it happened. I would joke that I looked like an Umpa lumpa with shinny hair.

Something else also, niacin at high doses can raise blood sugar levels. It is best to exercise after taking.

Polly, would you mind if I copied all your posts in this thread to their own thread? And if you're ok with it, what would you like the new thread to be named that you feel would encompass what you're teaching?

I have neutropenia - which means my immune system is almost non-existant.

I assume you have looked at wikipedia and found that a lack of folate and/or B12, or copper could be the reason for the neutrapenia. If you need the copper, my personal experience was that I felt better using copper sebacate. If you need the folate, then consider the methyl-folate because it is more likely you have a MTHFr problem common in Crohn's and colitis. Folic acid might not be good for you. People with a type of cancer called MDS find that vitamin D3 and high dose vitamin K2 can be helpful in bringing up the platelet and red blood cell counts. The type of vitamin K2 used in studies is the MK-4 form of it. The studies have been using a lot of the MK-4 form, 50 mg. You can get 15 mg pills of the MK-4 vitamin K2 from Relentless Improvement or Advanced Orthomolecular Research (AOR). Of course, the cheaper MK-7 form might work. I'm not implying that you have cancer. Don't worry. However, if it works for the people with cancer, it might work for you. Besides bringing up your vitamin D3 and K2 levels would be helpful because they are anti-inflammatory. Here is a forum where they are talking about a study involving vitamin D3 and K2 to bring up the white blood count. http://forums.marrowforums.org/showthread.php?p=25075

(It is also important to use both vitamins, along with a little vitamin A. The fat soluble vitamins need balance. By the way, carotene isn't always a good way to bring up your vitamin A. Children and those with low thyroid are unable to use the carotene to increase vitamin A. So use the real vitamin A.)

If you are deficient in vitamin D, a doctor may give you a high dose vitamin D2. However, the natural vitamin D3 works better. The only place I know to get the high dose vitamin D3, is from International Anti-aging Systems. A typical protocol is to give you 50,000 IU three times a week for a month. Then they retest in 3 months. (That is how often insurance will pay for testing.) However, you can order vitamin D testing yourself. Then you can find out more quickly if the therapy is working. The vitamin D council has referrals on where to get the testing. Here is a very entertaining video by Dr. Stasha Gominak's, a sleep doctor, on the amount of vitamin D that you need. (Not too much and not too little.) She talks about getting her patient’s vitamin D 25(OH) levels into a narrow range of between 60 and 80 mg/mL.

Wikipedia also mentioned arsenic poisoning from ground water as a possible reason for the neutropenia. (The people in Southern California are at risk for this in the USA.) The arsenic interferes with your folates.

There are other sources of arsenic. In the USA, they legally feed chickens arsenic. This is allowed because arsenic can kill parasites. However, the arsenic also makes the chickens grow faster, and hence the farmers make more money. Fortunately, one of the major feed producers has recently stopped putting arsenic in their chicken feed. They stopped when it was shown that the arsenic was present in the livers of chickens. (It was easier to test for it in the liver. We don't know if it accumulates in the meat. However, the meat does become more pink.) I'd read that Tyson doesn't feed their chickens arsenic, because Russia refuses to by the meat. You might call and find out if they still have that policy. Of course, your other option is organic chickens.

Another source of arsenic is rice if it is grown in soil high in arsenic. Rice preferentially takes up arsenic from the soil. Unfortunately, they used a lot of arsenic pesticides on some of the cotton fields in the Southern US states. So, rice grown there may be high in arsenic. You can do a search for the arsenic content of rice and where it was grown.

You can get rid of the arsenic with the typical chelation protocols.

The mouth sores may be related to the viruses typically associated with Crohn's and colitis. These viruses are particularly hard on your selenium stores. Also, selenium and sometimes lysine will help get rid of them.

Polly, would you mind if I copied all your posts in this thread to their own thread? And if you're ok with it, what would you like the new thread to be named that you feel would encompass what you're teaching?

We are getting off topic, aren't we. How about naming the new thread The Fungus-Yeast Connection.

Some really good info here - big thanks to Dave and Polly. I am at a bit of a loss on how to take carbs out of my diet though. I know I need to limit at least the simple sugars due to effects that I have noticed. I don't absorb much fat due to previous surgeries, so I could potentially end up with a real shortage of raw calories otherwise. Even the shift from enriched white bread to store baked has lead to a loss of weight for me. Need to get calories from somewhere!

As most anybody who takes niacin knows, it can cause a hot flushed feeling over the chest and face that is generally harmless, though quite annoying.

Many doctors are frightened by this response and will warn patients off from niacin. Some people who take niacin are so annoyed that they find it intolerable.

However, a very simple maneuver can relieve the hot flush in over 90% of instances: Drink water. Let me explain.

I usually instruct patients to take niacin at dinnertime. That way, food slows absorption modestly. I also ask them to drink water with dinner. If the flush occurs after dinner (usually 30-60 minutes later), then drinking two 8-12 oz glasses of water immediately breaks the flush within 3 minutes in the great majority of people. It’s quite dramatic.

Doing this around dinner (lunch works just as well) allows sufficient time to clear the excess water from your body before bedtime and spare you the aggravation of disrupted sleep to urinate. Drinking plenty of water works most of the time. Only an occasional person will need to take a 325 mg uncoated aspirin to more fully break the flush. I generally suggest that patients keep the uncoated aspirin in reserve if the water doesn’t provide relief within a few minutes.

Thankfully, the intensity of the niacin flush lessens, often disappears, with chronic use....